Swansea

Swansea's population increased by about 15,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 240,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Swansea increased by 7.0%, from about 223,000 to 239,000.

The addition of almost 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Swansea was home to, on average, 4.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Swansea

Latest census data also show that the median age of Swansea remained 39 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a slightly higher average age than Plymouth (one of the most statistically similar areas to Swansea based on ONS area classifications) (38 years of age) and the third-lowest average age in Wales.

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 8,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 15.0% of people in Swansea are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Swansea fell from 13.2% to 11.4% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 2,249 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 17,178.

In Neath Port Talbot (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Swansea), 15.3% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 17.8% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 20.5% to 19.0%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50.1% to 43.9%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Fewer married people

Swansea saw Wales' second-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (43.9%) people aged 16 and over in Swansea said they were married, compared with 50.1% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 29.7% to 36.7%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of married people occurred in Blaenau Gwent (from 51.0% to 44.5%).

The proportion of married people was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More people worked short hours

Swansea saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

Every local authority area across Wales saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 1.7% to 3.0%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Swansea said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 10.6% to 7.7%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week occurred in Ceredigion (from 2.7% to 4.5%).

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Swansea increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Wales that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Swansea

In 2011, 3.3% of Swansea residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 1.3% in 2001.

Across Wales, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 1.1% to 2.3%.

Around 94.0% of people in Swansea said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 97.9% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), compared with 0.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 0.5% to 0.9%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Swansea increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Swansea

Swansea saw Wales' third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.3%) in Swansea reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.8% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.9% to 5.4%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability occurred in Wrexham (from 7.5% to 6.6%) followed by Blaenau Gwent (from 6.8% to 6.2%).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Swansea with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 10.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.8%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28.7% in 2001. The percentage of households in Swansea without children increased from 60.8% to 63.0%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across Wales. As a result, this area had the country's ninth lowest proportion of households with adult children living with their parents and the lowest proportion of homeowners.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Religion in Swansea

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Swansea was among those who said they had no religion, rising 15.3 points.

In 2011, 36.7% of respondents in Swansea gave this religion on the census compared with 21.4% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Wales, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 20.2% to 34.7%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 59.4% said they were Christian, compared with 76.7% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.1% to 8.1%.

In Swansea, 7.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.5% in 2001. In Wales, 7.6% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 8.1% in 2001. Across England, 7.6% of people did not answer, compared with 8.1% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Swansea increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in Wales, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Swansea that rented privately increased from 8.4% to 14.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 19.3%, while the percentage of Swansea households that owned their home decreased from 69.3% to 64.0%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in nearby Neath Port Talbot (which remained close 10.2%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 8.6% to 14.1%.

Private renting in Swansea increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Swansea residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 13.4% to 8.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64.6% in 2001. The percentage of Swansea residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.0% to 14.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to nearby Neath Port Talbot (which remained close 10.5%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12.5% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Swansea decreased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Swansea, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 6.5% to 8.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in three (33.3%) households had only one person, compared with 30.8% in 2001. The percentage of households in Swansea which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 34.8% to 30.4%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a slower rate here than in nearby Neath Port Talbot (which remained close 9.5%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 7.5% to 9.7%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Swansea increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Wales that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

The percentage of Swansea residents that were studying increased from 3.0% to 4.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (47.9%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 46.3% in 2001. The percentage of Swansea residents that were unemployed increased from 3.6% to 3.9%.

The proportion of students increased faster here than in nearby Neath Port Talbot (which remained close 2.2%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 2.3% to 3.3%.

The percentage of students in Swansea increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Wales that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

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